Hundreds turn out to remember Elijah Marsh

Hundreds of GTA residents stood in the cold to say goodbye to the three-year-old who died in the harsh cold of a winter morning over a week ago after wandering out of his grandmother’s North York apartment.

The three-year-old boy’s father, Curt Barry, told a crowd packed into St. Matthew’s United Church on St, Clair Ave. W., near Christie St., that he was heartened by the massive outpouring of support.

Many were turned away because the church simply didn’t have enough space.

“I am very happy everyone in the city seems to have adopted my son, Elijah,” Barry said, in video provided by CP24. “I don’t have any tears because I have already shed everything.”

Barry was joined by a number of family members, including Elijah’s mother Georgette Marsh, in delivering heart-breaking eulogies. Elijah was remembered as an old soul who always yearned to do things for himself.

Marsh left his grandmother’s apartment around 4 a.m. on Feb. 19, clad only in a T-shirt, pull-up diapers and boots. He was found without vital signs hours later after police officers and volunteers from across the GTA searched for him.

Georgette Marsh recalled how independent her youngest son wanted to be, dressing himself whenever he had a chance.

“I tell everyone Elijah was a man since the day he was born,” she said. “I always felt confident he was ready for the world.”

“He always wanted to do things on his own and prided himself on getting dressed all by himself and (would) say, ‘I’m a big boy.’”

“You are the best brother anyone could have,” he said. “I’m going to miss you so much. Everyone misses you because you are a very special and wonderful person.”

Kito Clarke, Elijah’s stepfather, said the little boy was already so grown up even at such a young age.

“The joy he brought to me as a person, a person he made me,” Clarke said. “I thanked him every day when he was around when I had hard times, Elijah always made me feel special.”

Elijah’s little white casket was draped in a Canadian flag and the service filled with hymns and prayers.

Mourner Cyslyn McCall said she was deeply saddened by Elijah’s death and felt that she needed to come out and support his family, managing to get a seat in the church.

“He was a very loving child,” McCall said. “That’s the reason why all of Toronto came out to support Elijah today. I don’t know Elijah, I have three kids and I have two grandkids and it touched me.”

A man who lives in the same North York neighbourhood as Elijah’s grandmother, but did not give his name, said the turnout was important. People of many different backgrounds were brought together by the tragedy, he said.

“It shows there are a lot of people who felt him,” he said. “I hope it can continue going like that.”

Devon Haughton came to the funeral to pay his respects to Elijah, stunned by the tragedy. He hopes some sort of lasting tribute, like a scholarship, can be set up in honour of the little boy.

Haughton said he feels for the family who will continue to hurt beyond this day.

“Goodbye is the saddest thing you can say to anyone,” he said. “They know they’re not going to see him again. He is well-protected now. God wrapped his arms around him, right now, and he’s warm beside God.”

Hundreds attended St. Matthew's United Church for the funeral of three-year-old Elijah Marsh on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015. Marsh died after leaving his grandmother's apartment in the early morning hours, on an extremely cold night. (Veronica Henri/Toronto Sun)